7 AWESOME HIKES NEAR MURREN, SWITZERLAND

Murren is one of my favorite regions in Switzerland with some of the best balcony views in the world, which look down over Lauterbrunnen Valley with the ‘Big 3’ in the distance (Eiger, Jungfrau, Monch). I visited this region for a 5 days and barely had enough time to see all of the amazing hikes in Murren. Throughout my time hiking in and nearby Murren, I experienced some beautiful trails and I’ve put together this Murren Hiking Guide so that you can choose a hike or two (or seven) for your visit to Lauterbrunnen. I’m sure you will find a great adventure on this list of my nine favorite hikes in Lauterbrunnen.

In this blog post, you will find a description of each of the hikes near Murren and some photos I took as well as a link to the individual blog post I wrote about all of the hikes near Murren. You can click on that link for a more detailed review of the hike including maps, starting points, how to get there, photos, directions, difficulty, and a short story about my experience on that Murren hike. Some of the hikes on this list are right in Murren, but a couple of these hikes are near Murren but not quite in the center of the region. I was based in Murren and Wengen when I did all of these hikes and reached all of the trails by public transport so you will be able to reach any of these trails if you are based in Murren or one of the nearby towns. All of the trails are within about one hour maximum transit time to the trailhead, so they are all in the region. 

 

7 AWESOME HIKES NEAR MURREN

MURREN TO GIMMELWALD VIA FERRATA

The Via Ferrata from Murren to Gimmelwald is one of the most epic adventures in Switzerland. Traverse ladders and steps on the edge of a cliff overlooking Lauterbrunnen, but don’t worry you are strapped in with a harness!

For those who don’t know what a Via Ferrata is, it’s basically a series of ladders, steps, and rock climbing that leads you up a wall. You are wearing a harness and clip into a strong wire at the start of the Via Ferrata. From that point, you are always clipped in with at least one clip.

This is one of the most exhilarating hiking experiences you can have while based in Murren. You will literally be hanging off the wall over a 500-meter drop down into Lauterbrunnen Valley. You up for it?

I’ve added the instructions to get to the start of the Murren Via Ferrata below.

• Once you arrive at the Murren Train Station turn left out of the station and walk for 10-minutes past Hotel Edelweiss and you will arrive at the sports chalet on your right and Intersport on your left for the hiring of the gear.

This is one of the top easy hikes in Murren, although easy is relative. If you have a fear of hikes, this might be the hardest hike of your life.

Want more details and photos? View the full blog post here: THE MURREN TO GIMMELWALD VIA FERRATA

 

TANZBODELI & OBERSTEINBERG HIKE: THE BEST VIEW OF LAUTERBRUNNEN

Hike Distance: 13.9km Total distance from Gimmelwald to Tanzbodeli to Obersteinberg to Stechelberg. The total distance from Gimmelwald to Tanzbodeli was 6 steep kilometers in 2 hours.

Hike Duration: 4 hours of moving time but total time was 7 hours including an hour at the summit, an hour at the Obersteinberg Hotel, and other stops.

Hike Difficulty: The trail is not technically difficult although there are parts where you will clamber up rocks. No drop-offs are ever apparent on either side of the trail. Dirt path most of the way. Relatively simple hiking although the incline is quite steep and air does get thin. Physically challenging but relatively safe.

Hike Incline: Total elevation throughout the hike 1100-meters.

Want more details and photos? View the full blog post here: TANZBODELI & OBERSTEINBERG HIKE: THE BEST VIEW OF LAUTERBRUNNEN

 

MURREN TO SCHILTHORN HIKE (PIZ GLORIA)

The hike from Murren to Schilthorn is challenging with 1600m of altitude climbed throughout the trail to the Piz Gloria summit where James Bond ‘007’ was filmed. At the summit, you can reward yourself after the long hike with a warm bowl of soup at the revolving restaurant, which lets you take in the 360-degree panoramic views as you enjoy your meal. From Interlaken, you will want to leave quite early to give yourself enough time to do the hike and get back for what is a very possible day-hike from Interlaken.

The trail from Murren to Rotstockhutte is relatively easy. Most of the way is a dirt path although there are some sections that are a mixture of rock and path. Most families will easily navigate their way to Rotstockhutte with only 300-400m of elevation.

Rotstockhutte to Schilthorn is very steep. You collect over 1000-meters of an incline in just a few kilometers, which means it is just straight up the mountain. Here you clamber over rocks and are constantly heading uphill. However, it is quite safe and there are no drop-offs. If you can manage the steep incline there isn’t much more to worry about. This is the toughest hike in Murren but you can catch the cable car down like us, which softens the blow.

It’s 12.9km Total distance from Murren to Schilthorn mountain summit. If you want to hike down you will need to add a few more kilometers but we caught the Schilthornbahn down to Murren, which was a nice way to return after a long day on the legs.

Want more details and photos? View the full blog post here: MURREN TO SCHILTHORN HIKE

 

TRUMMELBACH FALLS SHORT TRAIL

Trummelbach Falls is Europe’s largest subterranean waterfall and is one of the highlights in Lauterbrunnen Valley, which is also known as the valley of 72 waterfalls. Trummelbach Falls is among the most famous of those 72 waterfalls At 20,000 liters of water per second, this roaring waterfall is an impressive sight. The hike from to town center of Lauterbrunnen is just .5 kilometers but it can be added on to part of a loop trail all the way up through Gimmelwald and Murren. It’s a great little hike near Murren down in Lauterbrunnen Valley below.

 

THE EIGER TRAIL HIKE: EIGERGLETSCHER TO ALPIGLEN

The Eiger Trail hike is one of the most popular routes in Switzerland because the path leads hikers directly under the world-famous Eiger North Face Wall, which is renowned as one of the toughest climbs in the world. But don’t worry the climb might be one of the toughest in the world but this hiking trail is quite basic.

The trail starts off with 200m of incline, although it is spread over a couple of kilometers and is nothing too strenuous. At this point, you cannot see Eiger, but the views across the valley and the towering glacial mountains are incredible and there is something to gawk at in every direction.

It isn’t long before you will reach the Eiger viewing area. It’s about 2km into the trail and there will likely be a little gathering of people and possibly some local cows. Here you will look up towards Eiger Mountain and if you read the signs, you can even identify the path the climbers use to scale the North Face wall of Eiger. 

The distance from Eigergletscher Train Station to Alpiglen along the Eiger Trail is 6.5km. The hike takes about 2.5 hours although if you went straight through without taking photos or stopping it would be well under two hours. It could be run in well under an hour and is one of the top hikes near Murren with a deep history.

Want more details and photos? View the full blog post here: THE EIGER TRAIL HIKE: EIGERGLETSCHER TO ALPIGLEN

 

 

STAUBBACH FALLS HIKE

One of the most popular short hikes near Lauterbrunnen is the Staubbach Falls trail, which is just .6 kilometers but very highly rated. The out and back trail takes you from Lauterbrunnen town out to this stunning 300-meter tall waterfall. It’s actually the third highest waterfall in all of Switzerland, which makes it all the more impressive. The waterfall got its name based on the mist that sprays off from the waterfall as it crashed down to the ground. This trail can be combined with the nearby Trümmelbach Falls if the adventure is a bit too short with just one waterfall.

 

THE ROTSTOCK VIA FERRATA AT EIGER, GRINDELWALD

The Rotstock Via Ferrata is an epic climb right next to the famous North Face Wall of Eiger. Using a harness, stairs, and metal stairs you can climb 400m of incline to the 360-degree panoramic viewpoint. It’s one of the most adventurous hikes near Murren with just a couple of trains required in the transit.

For those who don’t know what a Via Ferrata is, it’s basically a series of ladders, steps, and rock climbing that leads you up a wall. You are wearing a harness and clip into a strong wire at the start of the Via Ferrata. From that point, you are always clipped in with at least one clip.

The total hike distance was 5km from the start of the Eiger Trail and up to the summit and then back down to Eigergletscher Station.

Want more details and photos? View the full blog post here: THE ROTSTOCK VIA FERRATA AT EIGER, GRINDELWALD

 

I hope you enjoyed that list of epic hikes in Lauterbrunnen in my Murren Hiking Guide. If there are any hikes in Lauterbrunnen you think I need to check out on my next visit, please comment them below!